Flask light



.1. F. MORAN FLASH LIGHT Filed Aug. 12 .1930

- ATTORNEY-S mm on. 25, 1932 um'rso sm'res PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH Z3. IEEQRAN, F WATERBUBY, CONNECTICUT, LSSIGNOB TO SCOVILL MAHUFAG- mine GQMPMTY, 0i? WA'EMBURY, GGNEEGTIQUT, A GGBIPOBATEGN OE GGIWQIZCT tress Application filed August 153, i930. Serial No. 474386.

The invention relates to a flash light and in particular to one which is so designed that it may be carried in e ocket like a fountain pen or pencil. Hereto ore, flashlights of this t have been so constructed as to provide sit or for flashing o eration only of the associated lamp, or or permanent lighting only. In the former type, it was necessary to manually hold the circuit-controlling mechanism in circuit-closing position in order to light the lamp, with the result that the device could not be laid down or released without extinguishing the lamp. With the second type, it was necessary to piece the current-controlling mechanism in permanent lighting position order to operate the lamp, the current-controlling mechanism being such as to produce either c.v constant light or no light at all. An object oi this in so vention is to provide s. pocket flashlight oi the sci-celled pencil type constructed and erranged to permit the selective flashing or permanent lighting of the lamp.

A testers or" the invention. is the simplicity of construction, sssembly, and operation oi ,my light. 1 mm aware that flash lights of this type, generslly known as pencii flesh lights" have been weii known 'for some years past, bet the construction of such lights is generally quite compliceted, their disassenn bly to remove s worn-out bulb or battery and reassembly sfter insertion of the fresh part, is correspondingly intricate and an- 05 noying, s nd operations required for clos mg the light circuit, whiie reistively simple, occupy an nnnecesssiy smount of time end cause unnecessary annoyance to the user. 1 propose by my invention to simplify all of I these operations and provide a light of the type hereinaiter to be explained which will serve its purpow as satisfactorily as those at present in use and which will be simple and inexpensive in construction and easily and 46 conveniently operated.

thus re covering and of the top portion of the light,

over which it fits.

For the purpose of my invention I provide s relatively long, metallic shell 1, which may, and preferably does,have the general configuration of a fountain pen. This shell is provided on its outer portion with a clip 2 for attachment to a pocket edge. The clip may be attached to the shell in any suitable manner. The lower end of this shell 1 is turned inwardly at 3 to provide an annular groove or channel in which the edge of the protecting collar 4 of the lamp 5 may rest. A sleeve 6 which may be of rubber or some similar resilient material is provided, which is adapted to fit around the threaded portion of the lamp-bulb and to hold the terminal 7 thereoi normally out of engagement with the positive electrode 8. of the battery 9.

The top of the cap 10 is preferably made concave in the center, as at 11, to provide on the underside thereof a point 12 which is at all times in contact with the negative electrode of the battery 9. Inner projections 13, 13 formed by pressing in the sides of the cap, as at 14, 14, are adapted to fit into the angular slots 15, 15 end to ride therein, whereby the cap is secured in one or more operative positions on the shell, and the electric circuit gulated. .An elongated vertical. slip 16 out in the top of the shell 1, by imparting a resilient character to the metal of the shell surrounding it, enables the user easily to slip the cap over the top of the shell '1 by direct pressure.

The operation and assembly of the light will be readily understood. In assembling the light, the lamp-bulb 5 is first screwed into the threaded portion 410; of the collar 4, and the sleeve 6' preferably fitted in position over the collar l. Collar, lamp and sleeve, preferably though not necessarily thus fully as sembled, are then dropped into the metallic shell 1 from the end opposite the flanged end and automatically place themselves so that the edge of the collar seats in the channel formed by the flange. Dropping in the battery and slipping the cap over the open end completes the assembly.

When the light is not being operated the projections 13, 13 on the inner sides of the cap 10 are at the uppermost points 1?, 17 of the slots 15, 15 as shown in Figure 1. For intermittent flashing it is only necessary to apply slight pressure to the top of the cap, whereby the projections 13, 13 ride freely downwards in the vertical portion of the slots and the battery is pushed down, compressing the sleeve 6 until the battery electrode 8 meets the termi nal 7 of the light and closes the circuit. intermittent lighting may also be realized by pressing lightly with the thumb or finger on the bulb 5, thus compressing the sleeve 6 and bringing the terminal? into contact with the electrode 8. Permanent contact is made by screwing the cap slightly to the right whereby the projections 13, 13 ride freely in the angular portion of the slots 15, 15 to the points 18, l8 where they are frictionally held and thus hold the sleeve 6 permanently compressed and the terminals 7 and 8 in permanent contact one with another.

It will be apparent that the circuit controlling cap can be manipulated to permit either intermittent flashing of the lamp or to provide a constant light. Longitudinal movement of the cap along the casing, in which the projections 14 move along the longitudinally extending portions of the slots 15, permits intermittent flashing, while rotation of the cap on the casing in which the projections l i-move down the inclined portions 18 of the slots draws the cap inwardly to close the circuit terminal,-the friction between the projections 14 and the edges of the slot portions 18 being sufficient to hold the cap in circuit closing position against pressure of the spring sleeve 6. As a result, the flashlight Will produce a constant light when desired so that it can be laid down without extinguishing the lamp. The two movements of he- -c-ap are selective and can be instantly made by the operator to obtain either efi'ect desired.

It is to be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A pencil type vest pocket flashlight having in combination a lamp, a battery, a metallic casing forming part of the electric circuit between said lamp and battery, said battery being longitudinally movable relatively to said Aug, 1930.

JQSEPH F. MQ RAN. 

